Checklist: Working with an intern
Interns work in a company as part of their education. Do you want to place an intern in your business in the Netherlands? This checklist sets out what you need to arrange and what your obligations are.
Accreditation as a work placement company (leerbedrijf) is not necessary for an internship for a student in higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO) or university.
But you must be one for:
- students from senior secondary vocational education (middelbaar beroepsonderwijs, MBO)
- students from pre-vocational secondary education (voorbereidend middelbaar beroepsonderwijs, VMBO) in a learning-by-doing programme
- students with a disability from special secondary education
- students from practical education
Accreditation as a work placement company is valid for 4 years. You can apply for accreditation at the Stichting Samen Beroepsonderwijs Bedrijfsleven (SBB).
There are several ways to announce an internship.
Draw up a job advertisement for the work placement, specifying the type of placement, the duties involved and the number of hours.
- Offer your work placement at the SBB Stagemarkt (in Dutch). Learning-on-the-job positions can be posted on SBB Leerbanenmarkt (in Dutch).
- Use job platforms for internships at HBO and university levels.
- Approach educational organisations, these often have their own internship office.
- Share the internship vacancy on social media.
You must provide proper supervision (in Dutch) for your intern. For example, there must be at least 3 meetings during the placement period, one of which must take place at your business’s premises.
- You provide sufficient work that is in line with the intern’s training.
- You are responsible for what the intern does during working hours. You must, for example, ensure good working conditions and a safe work environment.
- You must monitor working hours
- You provide the intern with intensive guidance. The intern must develop certain skills during the internship at your company. Agree on these skills with the intern in advance so that you can provide feedback during the placement and afterwards.
Young people under the age of 18 are not permitted to carry out certain types of work (in Dutch). For example, they are not allowed to work with hazardous substances or in a noisy environment.
Mijnleercultuur.nl (in Dutch) offers information and inspiration on how learning in the workplace can become an integral part of the workday. The Learning Culture Quick Scan (in Dutch) gives you an insight into your organisation’s learning culture, as well as tips you can put into practice straight away. It takes 5 minutes to complete.
Do you want to hire a foreign student for an internship or apprenticeship? In some cases they will need a work permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning, TWV) Read more about offering an internship.
As as an employer, you are responsible for damage caused or incurred by the intern. Check your business liability insurance, or make sure you take out one.
Make clear agreements with an internship agreement or contract and put them in writing. Such an agreement includes information, such as:
- details of the intern, the educational institute, and your company
- duration of the internship and the number of hours per week
- arrangements for holidays and illness
- learning objectives and guidance
- when you will assess the intern
- internship activities
- any internship allowance
- who is liable in the event of damage
- handling of, for example, a company laptop or telephone
- when you and the intern may terminate the contract
An internship contract is a legal obligation if the intern is under 16 years of age.
- You are not obliged to pay your intern an internship fee. Unless this is stated in the collective labour agreement that applies to your company.
- An internship allowance is common nowadays. You set the amount of the allowance. It depends on your trainee’s level of education, work experience, and the academic year they are in.
- Many study programmes require an internship allowance.
- Does the work focus more on working than on learning? If so, your intern is working under a standard employment agreement and is entitled to the statutory minimum wage.
- In that case, the Netherlands Labour Authority may investigate and impose a fine on you if you do not pay enough.
Applying for labour costs compensation for a trainee
Under certain conditions, you can get labour costs compensation (Loonkostenvoordeel, LKV) if you employ a trainee.
- Your trainee must fall within the target group of the LKV benefit
- Your trainee must have a target group statement.
- Your trainee will receive a traineeship allowance.
With an internship allowance, your intern is insured for Wajong and Sickness Benefits Act
Do you pay your intern an internship fee? Then they are insured under Young Disabled Persons Act (Wajong) and the Sickness Benefits Act.
You do not pay employee insurance premiums for this. You also do not have to continue to pay wages in the event of illness.
Because you offer an internship, you may be able to get a practice-based learning subsidy from the government. This is a contribution towards the costs you incur for the internship supervision. Check if you qualify for this subsidy.
For some internships, your intern must have a certificate of conduct (Verklaring omtrent het gedrag, VOG). For example, for an internship in a nursery or with a security firm. You must give your intern money to apply for the certificate of conduct (VOG). Read how to apply for a VOG.
Are you a sole proprietor, freelancer (zzp’er)? You may be able to hire an intern. Some study programmes allow students to do an internship with zzp'ers. Other schools and universities prefer larger organisations.
This checklist applies to zzp'ers as well. And you must be able to meet the requirements of the educational institutions. For example, offering an educational workplace. And having the time to intensively supervise the intern.